Proper English, please
A page one headline in the Aug. 10 BDN read, “Ferguson marks 1-year anniversary of black man’s killing by officer.” Certainly, the headline editor should have written, “Ferguson marks 1st anniversary.”
As anyone who paid attention during English — or journalism — class should recall, we use ordinal numbers plus the word “anniversary” to denote annual occasions, such as “first anniversary.” Because anniversary refers to an event that is marked each year — annually, that is — saying “1-year anniversary” is akin to saying, “the first annual yearly commemoration.” Would anyone say they’re celebrating their 50-year birthday?
Using ordinal numbers often is more concise — not to mention correct. I believe The New York Times is one of the few newspapers that still insists on the correct construction in its style book.
Yeah, I know, picky. But precision in language is important, assuming people want to say what they really mean to say.
Rick Lindquist
Harrington
Same-sex marriage wrong
David Farmer’s Aug. 6 BDN column is an illustration of the secular versus Christian worldview.
He described the National Organization for Marriage as a “hate group” for its opposition to same-sex marriage for “loving, committed couples.” That certainly is secularism at its twisted, ultimate end.
The Bible, God’s word to his creation, defines the Christian view. In that book, marriage is ordained to be between a man and a woman. Homosexual activity has no place in the biblical definition of proper behavior.
That we all are sinners and fall short of of godly behavior goes without saying, but to proclaim same-sex marriage as OK because Farmer, Maine law and the U.S. Supreme Court have “settled the issue” is tantamount to declaring God has had it wrong from the onset of creation.
In the long term, God, who is in control, will take care of such nonsense.
David Anderson
Stockholm
Beware of cyber scams
A new AARP survey of Internet users shows that the freedom and convenience of public wireless networks may come at a cost. A free Wi-Fi network at an airport, hotel or coffee shop is convenient, but without a secure network, Americans risk oversharing, leaving themselves vulnerable to attacks by con artists and hackers.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network’s Watch Your Wi-Fi campaign gives Mainers the information they need to stay connected without sacrificing their personal security.
The site provides helpful advice, including four things never to do on public Wi-Fi: Beware because con artists often set up unsecure networks with names similar to a legitimate coffee shop, hotel or other free Wi-Fi network; don’t access email, online bank or credit card accounts using public Wi-Fi; don’t let mobile devices automatically connect to nearby Wi-Fi; and don’t surf using an unknown public network if the website requires sensitive information — including online shopping. A cellphone network is safer.
There also are simple, proactive steps each of us can take to keep our sensitive information safe online. For example, nearly one-third of survey respondents reported not having a passcode on their smartphones, putting them at high risk should their device be lost or stolen. Forty-five percent reported not updating their online passwords in the last 90 days. While maintaining unique passwords for each account and changing them on a regular basis may be inconvenient, it is an important step in keeping personal accounts safe online.
Watch Your Wi-Fi is a great place to start to learn how to be a scam and fraud fighter.
Michael Parent
Volunteer
AARP Maine Fraud Watch Network
Portland